Fantasy Alert: Rams' Cooper Kupp Avoids IR After Ankle Injury; Return Timeline TBD

The Los Angeles Rams aren't placing wide receiver Cooper Kupp on injured reserve as he deals with a left ankle sprain, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

An IR designation would require Kupp to miss a minimum of four games before he could be activated again. By declining that option, the Rams are signaling their confidence in having him back within the next four weeks.

Rams fans and fantasy football managers everywhere immediately grew worried when the 2021 All-Pro exited Los Angeles' 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. The concern grew when head coach Sean McVay included Kupp in a group of players who are expected to miss "an extended period of time."

The team may have dodged a bullet with its standout pass-catcher at least.

An offseason hamstring injury cost Kupp the first four weeks of 2023, and his production fell below its usual standard when he suited up. His 62.1 percent catch rate was a career low, per Pro Football Reference, and he averaged his second-fewest receiving yards per game (61.4).

The 31-year-old looked to be back to his best in a Week 1 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. He hauled in 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

But the injury bug got to him again, and it couldn't come at a worse time for the Rams, who did have to put wideout Puka Nacua on IR because of a PCL strain.

Only two games in, the injuries are already piling up for L.A.